Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Karnataka Bans Analogue Paneer Marketed as Paneer for One Year
Karnataka has made a one-year rule against selling certain non-dairy products as “paneer.”
These products are made to look like paneer but may use vegetable oil or other ingredients instead of parts of milk.
Food rules say paneer is a standardised food made from milk.
The products covered by the order cannot be labelled, advertised or sold as real paneer.
Restaurants and food businesses also cannot use them to prepare other foods.
Officials said several paneer samples tested in Karnataka showed no adulteration.
Even so, the government said the restriction was needed to protect public health and prevent consumers from being misled.
The order does not cover frozen desserts, processed cheese or mixed-fat spreads that follow separate food standards.
Karnataka has prohibited the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transport, distribution and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer marketed as “paneer” for one year.
The Food Safety Division of Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration issued the notification on August 17.
Analogue paneer is made by replacing some or all milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients.
The ban also prevents restaurants, caterers, manufacturers and other food businesses from using, storing, supplying or selling the products in food preparation.
Frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed-fat spreads covered by separate Food Safety and Standards Authority of India standards are exempt.
- Who
- Karnataka’s Food Safety Division under the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, with Commissioner Srinivas K named in the statement.
- What
- A one-year prohibition on analogue or non-dairy paneer marketed, sold or represented as “paneer,” including its use in preparing other foods.
- When
- The government notification was issued on August 17, and the prohibition lasts for one year.
- Where
- Across Karnataka, India.
- Why
- Officials cited public health, compliance with the prescribed milk-based paneer standard and the need to prevent consumers from being misled about product composition.
- Ban duration
- One year
- Notification date
- August 17
- Products covered
- Analogue or non-dairy paneer marketed, sold or represented as “paneer”
- Common substitutes
- Vegetable oil, vegetable fat and other non-dairy ingredients replacing milk fat or milk solids
- Business restrictions
- Food businesses may not manufacture, store, supply, sell or use the products in food preparation
- Testing reported
- Officials said several tested paneer samples showed no adulteration
- Exempt products
- Frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed-fat spreads covered by separate standards
Sources
Karnataka prohibits sale, production of analogue ‘paneer’ product for one year - Telegraph India
Karnataka Bans Production, Sale Of Analogue Paneer For One Year
Karnataka bans analogue paneer: What changes now and which items are exempted
Manufacture and sale of artificial paneer banned for one year
After Maharashtra, Karnataka bans analogue paneer for one year
Karnataka cracks down on ‘analogue paneer’, bans manufacturing, sale for 1 year: Does it apply to frozen desserts?
